Method for interlocking and overlapping laundry articles in s-shaped form



July 27, 1965 H. J. WEIR ,1

. METHOD FOR INTERLOCKING AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN S-SHAPED FORM Filed Feb. 7, 1962 s Sheets-Sheet 1 HENRY :mw wam July 27, 1965 H. J. WEIR 3,197,199

METHOD FOR INTEBLOCKING AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN S-SHAPED FORM Filed Feb. '7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

m0 EvToR HENRY IS'QHAJ wa H. J. WEIR July 27, 1965 METHOD FOR INTERLOCKING AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN S-SHAPED FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. '7, 1962 M/VEn/TOR HENRY 1mm mam y 7, 1965 H. J. WEIR 3,197,199

METHOD FOR INTERLOCKING' AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN S-SHAPED FORM Filed Feb. '7, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR HENRY (WW mm 7: swa+&izm

H. J. WEIR July 27,1965

METHOD FOR INTERLOCKING AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN S-SHAPED FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 7, 1962 ml \JEN ToR HENR Torr/v werra July 27, 1965 Filed Feb. 7, 1962 WEIR 3,197,199

H. J. METHOD FOR INTERLOGKING AND OVERLAPPING LAUNDRY ARTICLES IN SSHAPED FORM 6 Sheets-Sheet 6' \IUVENTOR I HENRY Jon/v we United States Patent liiETI-ltlll) TNTERLQCKTNG AND IWERLAP- PING LAUNDRY ARTTCLES IN S-SHAPEB FGRM Henryjohn Weir, The Yetts, Sedbury, Chepstow, England Filed Feb. 7, 1962, Ser. N 172,067

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 10, 1961,

5,636/61 2 Claims. (Cl. 279-65) This invention relates to apparatus for the preparation and automatic feeding of work to an ironing machine in a laundry. Such ironing machines conventionally comprise a series of steam-heated rollers through which the work is passed by a conveyor feed system. It has hitherto been the custom for the articles, after being shaken out from the crumpled condition they are in as a result of the washing and spin-drying processes, to be stacked in some suitable mobile container from which they are taken out and fed manually on to the conveyor belts of the ironing machine.

The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus which can be stacked with articles of laundry by the preparers, and can then be positioned adjacent the ironing machine, from where the articles will be automatically fed on to the conveyor of the ironing machine, one after the other, in an unbroken line.

A further obiect of the invention is to provide a me chanical aid, which simplifies the work involved in the preparation of the crumpled article by the preparer.

According to the invention the apparatus comprises clamping means for aiding the preparation of the articles to be ironed, and means for storing and stacking the articles in a minimum of space, together with separate means for automatically feeding the articles from their stored and stacked condition to the ironing machine, one at a time, and in such a way that immediately the rear edge of one article has left the feeding means, the next article follows it.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described. In this embodiment, the articles to be ironed are prepared, interlocked and stacked vertically on special trays mounted for the purpose on the first of two machines which will be termed the preparing unit. When required, these stacked trays are transferred to the second machine which will be termed the feeding unit and which is situated adjacent the ironing machine. The top article is guided into the ironing machine and the remaining articles are caused to follow it by virtue of the interlocking although they actually enter the machine separately.

By using a vertical stacking system, the articles may be stored in the minimum of space and it is also possible to pro-stack the trays before or during the ironing oper ation.

The respective constructions and operations of the preparing and feeding units will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a general view of the preparing and stacking unit,

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation of FIG. 1 partly in section,

FIG. 3 is a part section on the line III-III of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a part section on the line IVIV of FIG. 2,

FIGS. 5A to SE show five stages in the method of preparing articles,

PEG. 6 is a diagram to illustrate the working of the unit of FIGS. 1 to 4,

FIG. 7 is a general view of the feeding unit,

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation of P16. 7, and

PEG. 9 is a diagram to illustrate the working of the unit of FIGS. 7 and 8.

ice

Preparing and stacking unit The preparing and stacking machine comprises a steel framework l on which a fork lift arm assembly 2 is mounted vertically on a shaft 3. The fork lift arm motion is vertically controlled by a hydraulic ram 4 by way of a connecting chain 5. The hydraulic fluid for this ram is contained in a tank 6 and is drawn from this tank by way of a pipe 7. This fluid is caused to be drawn into the ram cylinder, when the fork lift arm assembly is manually elevated by means of a winding mechanism connected to the hydraulic ram by a chain 8. This chain is caused to rotate by the cross shaft 10 onto which a hand wheel 9 is attached.

A flap and clamping assembly ll (FIG. 1) is operated by an air cylinder 12 (FIG. 2) via a torque arm 13 to which the cylinder is attached by a spindle and a block 15. A semi-rotary motion is transmitted to this flap from the torque arm'13. Transmission is by means of a chain 16 which is attached to the spindle 14 by a length of rod and yoke end 17.

Springs 1% apply a permanent forward torque to the flap assembly and the air cylinder is employed to overcome and reverse the direction of this torque.

The compressed air to the cylinder 12 is controlled by a valve 19 actuated by a pedal 2d (FIG. 1). The air supply is controlled and lubricated by means of a manifold 21.

The lowering and stacking motion of the fork lift arm is controlled by a stack measure valve 22 through its operating lever 23.

When the fork 11 is in the level clamping position the torque arm spindle 14 contacts the stack measure valve lever 23. Any increase in the height of the stack results in the lever 23 failing to contact the spindle 14 and this condition will cause the stack measure valve 22 to exhaust the air from a diaphragm 24. This will in turn release a bleed valve and cause the hydraulic fluid to flow from the ram back into the tank, thus lowering the fork lift assembly until the required stack height position is reached. 7

These operations will become clearer from the ensuing description of the diagrammatic FIG. 6.

Hydraulic circuit When handwheel 9 is rotated fluid is drawn up into the hydraulic ram cylinder 4 from the oil tank 6 by way of a non-return valve 25, this displacement being caused by the withdrawal of the plunger of the ram upwards. The non-return valve 25 prevents the fluid from returning to the tank and thus the latter supports the ram in the withdrawn position.

In addition to the non-return valve there is also a bleed valve 26 which is held closed by air pressure on the auto release diaphragm 24. In the event of this air pressure being exhausted this valve will open and permit the trapped fluid to return to the tank thus permitting the hydraulic ram to be lowered.

Pneumatic circuit When the main air pressure is applied from a source 27 to the air cylinder 12 by operation of the pedal control valve 19, this same supply also applies a pressure to the auto release diaphragm 24 by way of the stack measure valve 22. The stack measure valve also has a second air supply direct from the main, but, this supply is shut off at the valve unless the valve lever is actuated.

When the pedal valve 19 is operated to the reverse position, the air cylinder is exhausted. This in turn would cause the release diaphragm 24 to exhaust itself thus opening the bleed valve 26 but, if the stack measure valve lever 23 is actuated during this operation an alternative air pressure is supplied to the diaphragm direct from the main supply.

The return position of the air cylinder linkages in relation to the stack. measure valve lever 23 controls the measuring of the stack of articles and causes the automatic lowering of the hydraulic ram to adjust itself accordingly.

An alternative method of charging the hydraulic ram with the tank fluid is a pressure sealed tank, into which the air pressure is applied on top of the fluid.

Operating procedure To commence the preparing and stacking operation the fork lift arms 2 are wound to the top of their lift by rotation of the hand wheel 9. A stack board 28 (FIG. 5) is then placed on the fork lift arms. The articles for ironing are then laid up and prepared on the stack board by the method now to be described.

The first article is placed on the board as shown in FIG. 5A and the pedal (FIG. 1) is depressed. This causes the flap 11 to grip about four inches of the edge of the article as shown in FIG. 5B. The free portion of the article can then be grasped by the operator and stretched into position to remove the creases. The pedal is then released and the operator folds the article so as to leave the upper portion overlapping the lower and lying on the now retracted flap as shown in FIG. 5C.

The second article is placed on top of the first with its edge positioned in the same location as that of the first as shown in FIG. 5D. The pedal is again operated to cause the flap to rotate and this folds the overlap of the first article over the edge of the second so interlocking them. The second article can then be stretched and folded as was the first.

As this process is repeated with successive articles, the fork lift arms are steadily lowered to maintain the top of the stack at a constant level.

When the stack has reached its maximum height, which is about 14 inches a whistle 29 (FIG. 6) will sound to warn the operator to cease stacking operations, until the stack board is changed and the machine is reset to the commencing position again. The stacked articles will all be interlocked as shown in FIG. 5E.

The only limit to the number of articles which can be prestacked in readiness for the feeding and ironing operations is the number of stack boards available.

Feeding unit As will be apparent from FIG. 7 this unit is similar in construction to the preparing and stacking unit in that it is provided with a fork lift arm mechanism 30 sliding vertically on a shaft 31 (FIG. 8) under the influence of a hydraulic ram 32 acting through a chain 33. This fork lift arm mechanism is, of course, arranged to receive the stack boards 28 with the interlocked articles thereon.

On the top of the unit is a pick-up feed roller 34 covered with a material surface affording a good grip, and a short feed conveyor 35. The conveyor 35 is driven by a motor 36 acting through a variable speed belt drive 37,

38 and 39 and a final chain drive 40. The speed of the conveyor can thus be synchronised with the speed of the ironing machine. The roller 34 is geared to the conveyor in a definite ratio for a reason which will be apparent hereinafter.

In addition to driving the chain 40, the belt 39 also drives via a shaft 41 an oil pump 42 supplying oil to the hydraulic ram 32. This pump is engaged or disengaged by means of a solenoid 43 (FIG. 9). The energisation of the latter is controlled by switches 44 and 45 actuated by a control flap 46 which rests on top of the stack of prepared articles. 47 is a limit switch to protect the ram and solenoid when the fork lift arms are at the maximum height.

Operation The unit is placed adjacent to the ironing machine. The fork lift arms are lowered to the bottom of their stroke and a stack board full of prepared articles is placed on them. The units speed is synchronised with that of the ironing machine and the leading edge of the first article is laid over the roller onto the conveyor. This will result in the complete stack of articles being fed out one at a time to the ironing machine until the stack has been discharged. As each article is fed, the fork lift arms are automatically raised.

Because of the difference in speed between the roller 34 and the conveyor 35, the articles are relatively progressed so as to remove the overlaps before they enter-the ironing machine.

What I claim is:

1. A method of preparing and stacking work to be ironed using a relatively stationary stack board and a flap shiftably mounted adjacent said stack board for movement between a position where it overlies an edge area of said stack board and a released position where it does not overlie the stack board and forms an effective extension of said stack board, said method comprising the steps of laying part of a first article on the stack board while the flap is in its released position, operating the flap to its overlying position to clamp the adjacent edge of the article, straightening the remainder of the article by stretching, shifting the flap to said released position, folding the article back on itself so that the upper part of the article overlaps the lower part and extends over the released flap, laying part of a second article on the part of the first article remaining on the stack board and operating the flap to its overlying position to fold said extended part of the first article over into overlapping interlock with the laid part of the second article.

2. A method for preparing and stacking articles to be ironed comprising the steps of laying at least part of a first article on a stacking platform, clamping a marginal edge of said article in place on said platform, straightening the remainder of said article by stretching, unclamping said article, folding said article back on to itself so that the upper folded portion of said article overlies and extends beyond said marginal edge, placing a second article on said first article so that it overlies only the part of said upper portion of said first article that is vertically above said lower portion, folding the part of said upper portion of said first article to overlap and interlock with said second article in an S-shaped configuration, clamping said first and second articles in place along corresponding marginal edges thereof, straightening said second article by stretching, and folding said second article back on to itself and said first article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 30,029 9/ 60 Underhill 27061 378,212 2/88 Palmer 27061 451,176 4/91 Coudert 270-39 839,521 12/06 Spoerl 27039 2,247,466 7/41- Baker et al 271-62 2,549,386 4/51 Reigh 27061 2,795,420 6/57 Rooney 27188 2,849,236 8/58 Beaulieu 27188 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF PREPARING AND STACKING WORK TO BE IRONED USING A RELATIVELY STATIONARY STACK BOARD AND A FLAP SHIFTABLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID STACK BOARD FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A POSITION WHERE IT OVERLIES AN EDGE AREA OF SAID STACK BOARD AND A RELEASED POSITION WHERE IT DOES NOT OVERLIES THE STACK BOARD AND FORMS AN EFFECTIVE EXTENSION OF SAID STACK BOARD, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF LAYING PART OF A FIRST ARTICLE ON THE STACK BOARD WHILE THE FLAP IS IN ITS RELEASED POSITION, OPERATING THE FLAP TO ITS OVERLYING POSITION TO CLAMP THE ADJACENT EDGE OF THE ARTICLE, STRAIGTHENING THE REMAINDER OF THE ARTICLE BY STRETCHING, SHIFTING THE FLAP TO SAID RELEASED POSITION, FOLDING THE ARTICLE BACK ON ITSELF SO THAT THE UPPER PART OF THE ARTICLE OVERLAPS THE LOWER PART AND EXTENDS OVER THE RELEASED FLAP, LAYING PART OF A SECOND ARTICLE ON THE PART OF THE FIRST ARTICLE REMAINING ON THE STACK BOARD AND OPERATING THE FLAP TO ITS OVERLYING POSITION TO FOLD SAID EXTENDED PART OF THE FIRST ARTICLE OVER INTO OVERLAPPING INTERLOCK WITH THE LAID PART OF THE SECOND ARTICLE. 